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well acquainted with the spot； had never seen or heard。
‘‘You may still return；'' said his guide； looking ominously back upon
him；…but Dick scorned to show the white feather； and on they went。
They entered a very long range of stables； in every stall stood a coal…black
horse； by every horse lay a knight in coal…black armour； with a drawn
sword in his hand； but all were as silent； hoof and limb； as if they had
been cut out of marble。 A great number of torches lent a gloomy lustre
to the hall； which； like those of the Caliph Vathek； was of large dimensions。
At the upper end； however； they at length arrived； where a sword
and horn lay on an antique table。
‘‘He that shall sound that horn and draw that sword；'' said the stranger；
who now intimated that he was the famous Thomas of Hersildoune； ‘‘shall；
if his heart fail him not； be king over all broad Britain。 So speaks the
tongue that cannot lie。 But all depends on courage； and much on your
taking the sword or the horn first。''
Dick was much disposed to take the sword； but his bold spirit was
quailed by the supernatural terrors of the hall； and he thought to unsheath
the sword first； might be construed into defiance； and give offence to the
powers of the Mountain。 He took the bugle with a trembling hand； and
a feeble note； but loud enough to produce a terrible answer。 Thunder
rolled in stunning peals through the immense hall； horses and men started
to life； the； steeds snorted； stamped； grinded their bits； and tossed on high
their heads…the warriors sprung to their feet； clashed their armour； and
brandished their swords。 Dick's terror was extreme at seeing the whole
army； which had been so lately silent as the grave； in uproar； and about to
rush on him。 He dropped the horn； and made a feeble attempt to seize
the enchanted sword； but at the same moment a voice pronounced aloud
the mysterious words：…
‘‘Woe to the coward； that ever he was born；
Who did not draw the sword before he blew the horn！''
At the same time a whirlwind of irresistible fury howled through the
long hall； bore the unfortunate horse…jockey clear out of the mouth of the
cavern； and precipitated him over a steep； bank of loose stones； where the
shepherds found him the next morning； with just breath sufficient to tell
his fearful tale； after concluding which he expired。
This legend； with several variations； is found in many parts of Scotland
and England…the scene is sometimes laid in some favourite glen of the
Highlands； sometimes in the deep coal…mines of Northumberland and
Cumberland； which run so far beneath the ocean。 It is also to be found
in Reginald Scott's book on Witchcraft； which was written in the sixteenth
century。 It would be in vain to ask what was the original of the tradition。
The choice between the horn and sword may； perhaps； include as a moral；
that it is fool…hardy to awaken danger before we have arms in our hands
to resist it。
Although admitting of much poetical ornament； it is clear that this
legend would have formed but an unhappy foundation for a prose story；
and must have degenerated into a mere fairy tale。 Dr。 John Leyden has
beautifully introduced the tradition in his Scenes of Infancy：…
Mysterious Rhymer； doomed by fate's decree；
Still to revisit Eildon's fated tree；
Where oft the swain； at dawn of Hallow…day；
Hears thy fleet barb with wild impatience neigh
Say who is he； with summons long and high；
Shall bid the charmed sleep of ages fly；
Roll the long sound through Eildon's caverns vast；
While each dark warrior kindles at the blast？
The horn； the falchion grasp with mighty hand；
And peal proud Arthur's march from Fairy…land？
Scenes of Infancy； _Part I。_
…
In the same cabinet with the preceding fragment； the following occurred
among other _disjecta membra。_ It seems to be an attempt at a tale of a
different description from the last； but was almost instantly abandoned。
The introduction points out the time of the composition to have been about
the end of the eighteenth century。
THE LORD OF ENNERDALE。
IN A FRAGMENT OF A LETTER FROM JOHN B； ESQ。 OF THAT ILK；
TO WILLIAM G； F。R。S。E。
‘‘Fill a bumper；'' said the Knight； ‘‘the ladies may spare us a little
longer…Fill a bumper to the Archduke Charles。''
The company did due honour to the toast of their landlord。
‘‘The success of the Archduke；'' said the muddy Vicar； ‘‘will tend to
further our negotiation at Paris； and if''
‘‘Pardon the interruption； Doctor；'' quoth a thin emaciated figure； with
somewhat of a foreign accent； ‘‘but why should you connect those events
unless to hope that the bravery and victories of our allies may supersede
the necessity of a degrading treaty？''
‘‘We begin to feel； Monsieur l'Abb；
‘‘a gratuitous exertion of generosity？ Was there no fear of the wide…wasting
spirit of innovation which had gone abroad？ Did not the laity
tremble for their property； the clergy for their religion； and every loyal
heart for the constitution？ Was it not thought necessary to destroy the
building which was on fire； ere the conflagration spread around the
vicinity？''
‘‘Yet； if upon trial；'' said the Doctor； ‘‘the walls were found to resist
our utmost efforts； I see no great prudence in persevering in our labour
amid the smouldering ruins。''
‘‘What； Doctor；'' said the Baronet； ‘‘must I call to your recollection
your own sermon on the late general fast？…did you not encourage us to
hope that the Lord of Hosts would go forth with our armies； and that our
enemies； who blasphemed him； should be put to shame？''
‘‘It may please a kind father to chasten even his beloved children；''
answered the Vicar。
‘‘I think；'' said a gentleman near the foot of the table； ‘‘that the
Covenanters made some apology of the same kind for the failure of their
prophecies at the battle of Dumbar； when their mutinous preachers compelled
the prudent Lesley to go down against the Philistines in Gilgal。''
The Vicar fixed a scrutinizing and not a very complacent eye upon this
intruder。 He was a young man of mean stature； and rather a reserved appearance。
Early and severe study had quenched in his features the gaiety
peculiar to his age； and impressed upon them a premature cast of thoughtfulness。
His eye had； however； retained its fire； and his gesture its animation。
Had he remained silent； he would have been long unnoticed； but
when he spoke； there was something in his manner which arrested attention。
‘‘Who is this young man？'' said the Vicar in a low voice； to his
neighbour。
‘‘A Scotchman called Maxwell； on a visit to Sir Henry；'' was the answer。
‘‘I thought so； from his accent and his manners；'' said the Vicar。
It may be here observed； that the Norther